Organizers of the 2017 Miss Asheville/Miss Blue Ridge Valley/Miss Hendersonville Scholarship Pageant are calling for contestants to compete for the Miss Asheville 2017, Miss Blue Ridge Valley 2017, and Miss Hendersonville 2017 crowns, as well as Blue Ridge Valley’s Outstanding Teen. A gala event will be held on Jan. 28, 2017 at Flat Rock Playhouse at 5 p.m.

Young women ages 17 to 23 are invited to compete for the titles of Miss Asheville, Miss Blue Ridge Valley, and Miss Hendersonville, subsidiaries of the annual Miss America Pageant.

Miss Asheville, Miss Blue Ridge Valley, and Miss Hendersonville 2017 will be eligible to compete in the 80th Miss North Carolina Pageant in June 2017 in Raleigh, whose winner will then compete in the 97th Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City, NJ.

The Miss Asheville/Miss Blue Ridge Valley/Miss Hendersonville Scholarship Pageant is an all-volunteer organization, and proceeds of its fund-raising efforts go into the scholarship fund that is awarded to Miss Asheville, Miss Blue Ridge Valley, Miss Hendersonville, and runners-up. The pageant is part of the Miss America Organization, one of the nation’s leading achievement programs that provide scholarship assistance to young women.

Contestants will compete in the categories of private interview, swimsuit, talent, and evening wear and will answer an on-stage question. They will also be expected to complete a service project of their own choosing.

During their reigns, the three pageant winners will take part in community service projects as well as participating in fundraising for the Miss America Organization’s charitable work on behalf of the Children’s Miracle Network.

Part of the program will include a competition for Blue Ridge Valley’s Outstanding Teen. The winners will appear with Miss Asheville, Miss Blue Ridge Valley, and Miss Hendersonville at the Miss North Carolina Pageant in Raleigh. The Outstanding Teen competition is open to young ladies ages 13 to 16 who live in the above counties. Teens will compete in private interview, physical fitness, talent, and evening wear and will answer an on-stage question.

About the Miss America Organization

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

Deadline to enter all competitions is Nov. 20, 2016. Those interested in entering should email info@missasheville.org for information on mandatory contestant meetings.